2007-2008 Public Relations Committee
Current Committee Meeting Minutes

January 11, 2008

October 26, 2007

TCMA Public Relations Committee
January 11, 2008
TML Offices - Austin, Texas

Members present were Greg Vick, Assistant City Manager, Farmers Branch and Chair; Gary Fuqua, City Manager, Big Spring; and Opal Mauldin Roberston, Assistant City Manager, Lancaster. Participating by conference call were: David Landis, City Manager, Perryton; Bernie Satterwhite, City Manager, Bellaire; Brad Stafford, City Manager, Navasota; Michelle Leftwich, Assistant City Manager, Mercedes; Ron Patterson, Assistant City Manager, Frisco; and Matt Aust, Business Intergovernmental Relations, Sugar Land.

TML staff present: Kyle J. Jung

Greg Vick called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. and welcomed those attending and those participating by conference call.

Greg Vick asked if the committee members had any changes to the minutes from the October 26, 2007 TCMA Public Relations Committee meeting. No changes were made.

The committee reviewed the results of the TCMA Public Relations Committee survey sent to TCMA members in December.

Greg Vick initially focused on the questions related to the Our Town, Texas (OTT) curriculum. Opal Robertson updated the committee about the Our Town, Texas subcommittee discussions and plans for future action. The subcommittee suggested the development on a condense curriculum that could be used by TCMA members when presenting the program at school classes and public events. The TCMA Public Relations Committee discussed several suggestions that could improve the dissemination of the Our Town, Texas curriculum.

Greg Vick moved on to the list of individuals who volunteered to speak at local colleges and universities. The list will be sent to MPA directors, political science department chairs, TCMA Cooperating 2 members, and posted on the TCMA Web site.

The Committee then moved on the list of individuals who volunteered to participate as Crisis Team members during Form of Government activities. Greg Vick asked that all TCMA Life members and Cooperating 2 members be added to the list. Greg Vick asked that those who had not already volunteered to be on the Crisis Team list be contacted to determine if they would consider participating on the Crisis Team.

In place of formal training, the TCMA Public Relations Committee would develop talking points that could be used to ensure consistency of message for those addressing Form of Government issues.

Greg Vick updated the committee about the TCMA/University of North Texas Form of Government research project. The URL for the Web site is www.padm.unt.edu/project/. As more information is collected, it will be added to the site by UNT. A status update will be given at the TCMA Annual Conference in June at the TCMA Board meeting as part of the committee’s report.

Kyle Jung reminded the committee members that the deadline for submitting City Council of the Year Award nominations is March 14.

The Public Relations Committee set its next meeting as a conference call on Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. to discuss the nominations received for the City Council of the Year Award.

With no other items on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned at 12:03 p.m.

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TCMA Public Relations Committee
October 26, 2007
TML Offices - Austin, Texas

Members present were Greg Vick, Assistant City Manager, Farmers Branch and Chair; Gary Fuqua, City Manager, Big Spring; Bill Funderburk, City Administrator, Hamilton; Victoria LaFollett-Koenig, Deputy City Manager, Nacogdoches; Bernie Satterwhite, City Manager, Bellaire; Brad Stafford, City Manager, Navasota; Matt Aust, Business Intergovernmental Relations, Sugar Land; Cliff Keheley, Director of Housing and Community Services, Mesquite; and Kyle J. Jung, TML staff. Participating by conference call were: Gary Broz, City Manager, Port Lavaca and Vice Chair and Krystal Strong, Special Projects Manager, San Antonio.

Greg Vick called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. and welcomed those attending and those participating by conference call.

Greg Vick led a review of the Public Relations Committee responsibilities included in the 2007-08 TCMA Strategic Plan.

The committee reviewed the TCMA’s awards. Since four of the awards are the responsibility of the TCMA Membership Committee, the Public Relations Committee suggested the Membership Committee include a review of these awards on their next meeting agenda.

Since few applications for the TCMA awards have been received in the past several years, the committee decided to send the publicity to mayors and members of the other TML Affiliate organizations in future mailings and notifications. Also, a reminder should be sent to TCMA members 30 days before the application submission deadline. If few applications are received, TCMA should not feel that it is required to award any award simple to fill the slot.

Regarding the TCMA City Council of the Year Award, the committee discussed making the application less cumbersome with the thought that more applications would be submitted. The committee decided not to make any changes to the application form at this time.

The Committee recommended that the Membership Committee review the Terrell Blodgett Academician Award and only present it every two year or when appropriate.

Regarding TCMA scholarships, the committee discussed the need for more member involvement to encourage individuals to apply for the scholarships.

A survey of TCMA members will be developed with three questions:

1. Ask TCMA members to volunteer for a speakers list so a source of presenters on local government issues can be compiled. This list will be made available to local universities and colleges.
2. Ask TCMA members to join a crisis team that can be used as an educational resource during form of government elections
3. Ask TCMA members to relate any form of government elections in Texas in the last 5 years that they know about. This information will be provided to the University of North Texas so they can compile a form of government database.

Greg Vick informed the committee that Opal Mauldin-Roberts, Assistant City Manager, Lancaster and others are working on the Our Town, Texas program and asked for volunteers. Matt Aust volunteered and said that he would contact Opal directly.

With no other items on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned at 12:05 p.m.